"Schoolgirls in Hijab"

Egypt

The veil that covers the hair and necks of these Cairo schoolgirls is called hijab—an Arabic word that refers to both the head-covering scarf and the religious code that governs such clothing. The word also refers to modesty, privacy, and morality. Muslim women wear these headscarves and loose-fitting clothing in keeping with the teachings of the Qur’an. Many Muslims believe that in the presence of someone of the opposite sex other than a close family member, a woman should cover her body, and walk and dress in a way that does not draw sexual attention to herself. There is not a single specified age when a woman should begin wearing hijab, but puberty seems to be the dividing line for many Muslim countries.